Backlight device for liquid crystal module

• US 8,622,565 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kawada, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US12/430,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 362 971- 972, 362632-634, 36221701-225, 349/58
• US Class Current: 362/97.2
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means

Abstract

A backlight device for a liquid crystal module includes a linear light source and a light reflecting member. The light reflecting member reflects light emitted from the linear light source. The light reflecting member includes a center reflecting face, a pair of first peripheral reflecting faces and a pair of second peripheral reflecting faces. The center reflecting face and the first and second peripheral reflecting faces are integrally formed from a sheet-like member as a one-piece, unitary member.

Claims

1. A backlight device for a liquid crystal module, comprising:

a linear light source configured to emit light, the linear light source having a U-shape with a bent portion at one end of the linear light source and a pair of straight portions extending from both ends of the bent portion, respectively;

a pair of clamps supporting the linear light source at the bent portion and one of the straight portions of the linear light source, respectively; and

a light reflecting member arranged to reflect the light emitted from the linear light source toward a liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal module, the light reflecting member including

a center reflecting face that is formed in a rectangular shape and disposed rearward with respect to the linear light source, the center reflecting face having a pair of openings through which the clamps are disposed, respectively,

a pair of first peripheral reflecting faces that is formed in a trapezoidal shape and extends from a pair of first opposing side portions of the center reflecting face frontward and outward with respect to the center reflecting face, respectively, and

a pair of second peripheral reflecting faces that is formed in a trapezoidal shape and extends from a pair of second opposing side portions of the center reflecting face frontward and outward with respect to the center reflecting face, respectively, the center reflecting face and the first and second peripheral reflecting faces being integrally formed from a sheet-like member as a one-piece, unitary member,

an end portion of one of the first peripheral reflecting faces abutting an end portion of one of the second peripheral reflecting faces that is adjacent to the one of the first peripheral reflecting faces to form a corner section of the light reflecting member at a corner portion of the center reflecting face with the corner portion of the center reflecting face being located between the one of the first peripheral reflecting faces and the one of the second peripheral reflecting faces,

the light reflecting member further including a coupling portion that couples the end portion of the first peripheral reflecting face with the end portion of the second peripheral reflecting face,

the coupling portion including an insertion tab that extends from one of the end portion of the first peripheral reflecting face and the end portion of the second peripheral reflecting face, and a slit portion that is formed on the other of the end portion of the first peripheral reflecting face and the end portion of the second peripheral reflecting face, the insertion tab being disposed through the slit portion to couple the end portion of the first peripheral reflecting face with the end portion of the second peripheral reflecting face.

2. The backlight device according to claim 1, wherein

the first opposing side portions are longer than the second opposing side portions in length, and

at least one of the second peripheral reflecting faces further includes a through hole with a continuous periphery, a part of the linear light source being disposed through the through hole of the second peripheral reflecting face.

3. A backlight device for a liquid crystal module, comprising:

a linear light source configured to emit light, the linear light source having a U-shape with a bent portion at one end of the linear light source and a pair of straight portions extending from both ends of the bent portion, respectively;

a pair of clamps supporting the linear light source at the bent portion and one of the straight portions of the linear light source, respectively;

a light reflecting member arranged to reflect the light emitted from the linear light source toward a liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal module, the light reflecting member including

a center reflecting face that is formed in a rectangular shape and disposed rearward with respect to the linear light source, the center reflecting face having a pair of openings through which the clamps are disposed, respectively,

a pair of first peripheral reflecting faces that is formed in a trapezoidal shape and extends from a pair of first opposing side portions of the center reflecting face frontward and outward with respect to the center reflecting face, respectively, and

a pair of second peripheral reflecting faces that is formed in a trapezoidal shape and extends from a pair of second opposing side portions of the center reflecting face frontward and outward with respect to the center reflecting face, respectively, the center reflecting face and the first and second peripheral reflecting faces being integrally formed from a sheet-like member as a one-piece, unitary member; and

a frame supporting the linear light source via the clamps,

the light reflecting member further including extension tabs extending from outer peripheral edges of the first and second peripheral reflecting faces, respectively, the extension tabs being supported by side plates of the frame, respectively.

5. The backlight device according to claim 3, wherein

an end portion of one of the first peripheral reflecting faces abuts an end portion of one of the second peripheral reflecting faces that is adjacent to the one of the first peripheral reflecting faces to form a corner section of the light reflecting member at a corner portion of the center reflecting face with the corner portion of the center reflecting face being located between the one of the first peripheral reflecting faces and the one of the second peripheral reflecting faces.

6. The backlight device according to claim 5, wherein

the light reflecting member further includes a coupling portion that couples the end portion of the first peripheral reflecting face with the end portion of the second peripheral reflecting face.

4. A backlight device for a liquid crystal module, comprising:

a linear light source configured to emit light;

a light reflecting member arranged to reflect the light emitted from the linear light source toward a liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal module, the light reflecting member including

a center reflecting face that is formed in a rectangular shape and disposed rearward with respect to the linear light source,

a pair of first peripheral reflecting faces that is formed in a trapezoidal shape and extends from a pair of first opposing side portions of the center reflecting face frontward and outward with respect to the center reflecting face, respectively, and

a pair of second peripheral reflecting faces that is formed in a trapezoidal shape and extends from a pair of second opposing side portions of the center reflecting face frontward and outward with respect to the center reflecting face, respectively, the center reflecting face and the first and second peripheral reflecting faces being integrally formed from a sheet-like member as a one-piece, unitary member; and

a frame housing the light reflecting member, the frame having a bottom plate, a pair of first side plates and a pair of second side plates, the first and second side plates extending frontward from peripheral portions of the bottom plate with respect to the bottom plate, respectively, the first and second side plates defining an interior of the frame therebetween, the center reflecting face, the first peripheral reflecting faces and the second peripheral reflecting faces of the light reflecting member being disposed within the interior of the frame,

the light reflecting member further including a pair of first extension tabs and a pair of second extension tabs,

the first extension tabs extending from outer peripheral edges of the first peripheral reflecting faces, respectively, the first extension tabs being disposed on the first side plates of the frame, respectively,

the second extension tabs extending from outer peripheral edges of the second peripheral reflecting faces, respectively, the second extension tabs being disposed on the second side plates of the frame, respectively,

the first peripheral reflecting faces being slanted with respect to the center reflecting face such that the first peripheral reflecting faces extend inwardly away from the first side plates of the frame, respectively, as the first peripheral reflecting faces approach the center reflecting face, respectively,

the second peripheral reflecting faces being slanted with respect to the center reflecting face such that the second peripheral reflecting faces extend inwardly away from the second side plates of the frame, respectively, as the second peripheral reflecting faces approach the center reflecting face, respectively,

the light reflecting member further includes an insertion tab that extends from one of an end portion of one of the first peripheral reflecting faces and an end portion of one of the second peripheral reflecting faces, and a slit portion that is formed on the other of the end portion of the one of the first peripheral reflecting faces and the end portion of the one of the second peripheral reflecting faces, the insertion tab being disposed through the slit portion to couple the end portion of the one of the first peripheral reflecting faces with the end portion of the one of the second peripheral reflecting faces,

the insertion tab having a narrow base portion and a wide end portion that extends from the narrow base portion to form a distal end of the insertion tab, the wide end portion having a width that is wider than that of the narrow base portion, the wide end portion including at least one engaging protrusion that engages with an edge of the slit portion such that the insertion tab is prevented from being disengaged from the slit portion while the insertion tab is disposed through the slit portion, the engaging protrusion having a peaked shape with an apex part, the engaging protrusion having a width that gradually increases as the engaging protrusion approaches to the apex part of the engaging protrusion from the distal end of the insertion tab.

7. The backlight device according to claim 4, wherein

one of the second peripheral reflecting faces includes a pair of through holes, each of the through holes having a continuous periphery, a pair of end portions of the linear light source being disposed through the through holes, respectively.

8. The backlight device according to claim 4, wherein

the light reflecting member further includes a bent portion that is disposed between the center reflecting face and each of the first and second peripheral reflecting faces and extends along each of the first and second opposing side portions of the center reflecting face.